Wildlife Photograph

Quarry restoration continues with topsoil grant

Saturday March 31, 2007
Native warm season grasses planted

Spring has been a busy time, as Ijams Nature Center received a generous contribution of topsoil and excavation services to continue restoration efforts at Mead’s Quarry. This project compliments a recent Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project (WHIP) grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to create a native warm season grasses meadows.

 

The City of Knoxville, Stormwater Engineering Department, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and Riverworks Inc. made improvements to Third Creek to reduce flooding by recreating meanders, stabilizing the stream banks and planting native vegetation.

 

The project generated 1500 yards of fertile topsoil that was required to be removed from the site. City Councilman Joe Hultquist, John Shubzda of the City of Knoxville Stormwater Engineering Department and Chris Burkhart of Southern Shores LLC collaborated to get the soil to Ijams.

 

The 150 truck loads of soil were delivered the last few days of February and the soil was spread using a bulldozer. Chris Burkhart of Southern Shores LLC generously donated use of the equipment and operator. We were also able to grade out rubble piles and remove several old foundations. Ijams also received a donation of gravel from Vulcan Materials Inc. for the haul road and an event parking area.

 

By Ed Yost, park manager

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